A new business in Ridgeland hopes fans of college football show their spirit and deck out for the Mississippi games.

The College Corner is now open at 500 U.S. 51 North, Suite V, in Ridgeland in Trace Station Shopping Center.

Scott and Paula Werne of Ridgeland decided to get into retail after they noticed the metro area lacked a store that specialized in licensed merchandise for fans of the largest state universities.

Scott Werne said he searched stores in the metro area for a particular knit shirt and did not find it at any of the big-box sporting goods stores. He ended up buying a shirt after standing in line for an hour and half on game day at a store that specialized in apparel for his favorite team. “I asked my friends what they did and heard the same thing,” he said.

The College Corner sells apparel for men, women, children and infants as well as hats, gifts, accessories and tailgating supplies for the University of Mississippi, Mississippi State University, the University of Southern Mississippi, the University of Alabama and Louisiana State University.

The universities were narrowed to Ole Miss, MSU, USM, Alabama and LSU by choice, he said. “We felt like it was more important to mean something to a smaller number of schools,” he said.

Werne expects to add additional teams and merchandise as the store grows its inventory.

“We’ve already heard from a lot of Auburn fans,” he said. “And while the New Orleans Saints are not a college team, we know that there are a lot of Saints fans in the metro area.”

The store stocks apparel for Madison County high school teams and sorority logo items that it will deliver to students at Ole Miss or MSU.

Werne said the love of sports runs deep in his family. One of his great- grandfathers played football on the first University of Southern Mississippi (Mississippi Normal College) football team in 1912, and his grandfather played baseball for the University of Alabama, was drafted by the St. Louis Browns, but became a professional golfer pro instead.

Werne played both football and baseball for Northwest Rankin High School, and Paula Werne played tennis and was the captain of the cheerleading squad at Bethel College. The Werne children, Nora and Matthew, are aspiring athletes in soccer, softball, baseball, basketball and swimming.

■

Jim Beckham of Madison opened Affordable Mattress Outlet in Jackson a year ago and recently relocated to 608 U.S. 51 North in Ridgeland, next to Allegrezza Piano Co.

If you’re in the market for a new mattress, the prices alone will make you want to check it out.

King-size mattress sets sell for $269, regardless of style or brand, and queen size sets are $239, Beckham said. The business has mostly king and queen sets because that’s what most customers want, but from time-to-time has full and twin sets, too.

Beckham said he can’t advertise the brands but, yes, you would recognize them.

“The manufacturer sells them to me where I can make a little,” he said. “It’s like selling 15-cent burgers. If you sell enough, you make a profit.”

Beckham, who opened the store to help pay for expenses for a daughter in college, said the mattresses are good looking and a great deal. “My customers save a fortune,” he said.

Beckham, who once worked in the radio industry, also has a business where he calls upon auto dealers and repairs burns in upholstery in used cars, and another business called Night Riders Designated Drivers.

Night Riders ferries home restaurant or bar patrons, who don’t want to drive because they’ve had alcohol to drink, and their vehicles. It requires a reservation before the service is needed.

“Mostly people in Madison use us,” he said. “It’s doctors and lawyers, people who can’t risk a DUI because it would wreck a career.”